Monday, January 25, 2010

Final ? Reflection


It has been only three days since I have arrived home from India and I still haven’t grasped the experience. Maybe I will never truly embrace it at all? For India I believe is a mystical place where as in my childhood adventure books of sultans and tigers, it is filled with dreams of old and adventures yet to come.

A constant grasp of the past and future awaits every corner you turn. As the streets afford oxen pull carts gently coaxed by barefoot boys next to speeding crotch rockets driven by gel haired yuppies negotiating traffic to a Dell computer call center. It is a land where the past dances next to the future in harmony.

And yet there are dreams in the eyes and voices of the children as they wade through the tight alleys of the slums strewn with garbage, animals, and open sewage. They laugh, play, and tell stories of becoming famous and royalty. I truly am a stranger in a strange land.

Upon arrival, I was told by my dean and professor, that when one reads a book on India, one thinks they know a little about India. Then one day, one visits India and believes they know a lot. Then, one comes back and stays in India for a few years and one believes they are an expert! Only to realize after twenty years of living in India, what they know of India, they know nothing at all.

The hiddeness of God never may have been as revealed as in the land where future meets the present and begrudgingly lives next to the past. The past living so peaceful and simple in God’s creation with no mind to the present neighbor who strives to create faster microchips and advanced medical procedures. Yes, God may be truly revealed in all of these experiences; however, I have not yet found the treasure. As in my childhood stories, the telling of the adventure may be the treasure in itself.
Scott

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Some Links for Places We Visited

I know I missed some, but this may be a help for some folks besides myself, as we all begin the process of sorting out what we actually did, and what it all meant. I suspect that all of us are still a bit jet-lagged. I certainly am. Sometimes I could not find a good link, but I kept the name of the place on the list.

Bangalore

UTC Theological College http://www.utcbangalore.in/
National Biblical and Catechetical Center http://www.nbclc.org.in/
Lalbagh Botanical Garden http://www.horticulture.kar.nic.in/lalbagh.htm
Bull Temple, Bangalore http://www.indiasite.com/karnataka/bangalore/bulltemple.html
Ecumenical Christian Center, Whitefield http://www.eccbangalore.org/
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences-Whitefield http://sssihms.org.in/wfd/index.asp
Brindavan Ashram of Sathya Sai Baba http://www.sathyasai.org/ashrams/brindavan.htm
SECON http://www.secon.in/default.asp
Bishop Cotton Girls’ School http://www.bishopcottons.com/bcgs/bgside.htm
WHAD: Women’s Health and Development http://whadindia.org/

Mysore

Srinrangapatna:
Tipu Sultan’s place of martyrdom
Ranganathaswamy Temple
Daria Daulat Bagh:Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace
Chamundeswari Hill Temple http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamundeshwari_Temple
Mysore Palace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysore_Palace
St. Philomena’s Church http://www.mysore.org.uk/tourist-attractions/philomena-church.html
Brindavan Gardens http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brindavan_Gardens

Trip to Mangalore

Gomateshwara: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomateshwara

Mangalore

Karnataka Theological College http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=11201&lg=eng
Sayid Muhammad Shareeful Madani Dargah http://www.aulia-e-hind.com/dargah/Manglore.htm
Konkani Cultural Center http://www.vishwakonkani.org/
Thousand Pillar Temple of Moodabidri http://www.moodabidri.com/
Soans Farm http://www.moodabidri.com/soans/index.html
Christa Sevakee Ashram, Parpale Old People’s Home
Mulki Boarding Home
Kudroli Gokarnath Temple

Mumbai

YMCA Mumbai http://www.ymcabombay.com/
Tender Hands http://www.tenderhands.org
NavJeevan for children of women in the red light district http://www.navjeevan.org/home.htm
SEAL Ashram http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/04/06/stories/2007040600862200.htm
Jyothis Community Care Center (AIDS)
http://www.jyothis.org/CareCenter.html

Sunday, January 17, 2010

New Scents

Leaving the confines of the seminary campus, the environment and scents change. Yet, even in the brokeness of the trash, burning garbage, dire dwellings the children smile, the children play, and the children share their dreams! Mumbai awaits.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Tropical Get-away...

So, Mangalore is quite different from Bangalore. A coastal city, it is noticably warmer with high humidity, tall palm trees everywhere you look, even more brilliant flowers, and sometimes the faint hint of sea air.

Yes, we are definitely not in Bangalore anymore.

This leg of the trip has changed pace a bit-- not so rushed and jam-packed with lectures and visits, etc, but more casual with time to sit and reflect. Yesterday we had an incredible day of visits to a Jain temple, a local farm (with 1000 acres of pineapples, other fruit and nut trees, flowers, etc.), a home for elderly men and women which served us lunch, and a boarding home for girls aged 6-20 which provided us with dinner. At each of these places we had time to wander, talk, and at the last two places, sit, nap, and/or play on the playground. I've enjoyed this more relaxing pace.

Our final destination of Mumbai (which we leave for tomorrow) will surely be different, yet again, from both Bangalore and Mangalore...

Friday, January 15, 2010

It has been a while

So there hasn't been a post in a good long while so I thought I would give you a short update. We have traveled from Bangalore to Mangalore. It was a perilous bus ride over the mountains in which there was lots of screaming. For instance there where several times through the trip where I looked out my window and there was no road only straight down. Of course I was one of the brave ones no screaming from me, but others yes others ;-) We arrived late in the night Wednesday and we have been busy ever since. Our lecture topics here have been on the religious plurality in India from a Hindu, a Muslim, and 3 Christians. We have finished up that series and are free this afternoon for sightseeing and shopping. Tomorrow morning we fly to Mumbai. There is some worrying going on over here because the weight limit for this flight is less then for international flights and so some of us might start throwing clothes away to meet the requirements. All in all I am sure we will all make it to Mumbai one way or another. We have had some wonderful times over the last few days and last night in particular we had a great time visiting a girls' school. I have some pictures but am unable to get them up right now. Some others may post their pics. We are looking forward now to our 3rd and last leg of our Indian travels. Hopefully we will have more use of the Internet in Mumbai and there will be more posts to follow.

Steve

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Group pic

This is a photo of our entire group! Just thought you'd like to see who's been writing... This is taken outside the administration building at United Theological College, Bangalore.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Welcome

It has been an interesting week. That is right, a week. Well technically a week very early tomorrow morning, but still that makes it seem more amazing. We have done and seen so much. Yesterday we experienced worship at one of the CSI (Church of South India) congregations. We heard the bishop preach and got to experience the liturgical life of the congregation. The bishop was present because it was confirmation Sunday as well. It turned out to be a slightly longer service then I am used to because of the confirmation. After the service we were graciously invited to the party of one of the students confirmed. That was just one example of how I have experienced people here being more welcoming then we are back in the US. It would be very strange for you to invite complete strangers to your party, but we were invited. This sort of hospitality keeps happening all over the place, as we are invited in and given tours of places that in the US we would not be permitted into. This culture is so welcoming it is surprising sometimes. Well I came out to an Internet place in the city to post this so I think I'm going to go hop an auto back now. (See how much we've grown in a week, I can go out on my own - well Rodney helped) More posts to follow

Steve

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Alexis Baba...










So, there's been an interesting development on the trip... I've become referred to by some of our group as "Alexis Baba: goddess of children!"

"WHAT?! Why?" You might be asking...

Well, as it turns out, 6ft tall, blonde American women happen to be something out of the ordinary around here. Go figure! ;) In fact, a large group of mostly white Americans draws lots of attention, but I seem to be getting quite a lot of it. When I walk by people smile and take long looks. Small children wave and shout, young people giggle, and-- most interestingly-- random families or groups ask to have their picture taken with me. (I'm not the only one, but I must say, I've been in a lot of strange pictures since arriving. Our day trip to Mysore was where this really came to a head. At one point, walking out of one of the Hindu temples, a swarm of school-aged kids flocked around me, asking me questions and so on. It was really something.

I'm not really used to this kind of attention. But, it's fun. I suppose that if I'm going to be taking pictures of all the people I see here, it only makes sense for people to take my picture. :)

The whole thing is definitely making me pay closer attention to the power and privilege I carry as a white American woman. No doubt about that.

~Alexis

Top L: The swarm of kids and their teacher outside a temple Middle R: Me with a random girl whose parents made her take a picture with me. Can you say "awkward"?? Bottom L: Rachel showing a pic to a group of Hindu devotees who wanted photos of us like we wanted of them. A true cultural exchange! :)

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Tea time

This has been quite the experience so far. I have been amazed at the beauty of God's creation half a world away from home in Alburtis, PA. Time here seems to be moving so fast, with trips around the area, study in lectures and library. Even daily Tea overlaps other endeavors. As a pastor in a small Pennsylvania rural congregation, Bangalore is an extremely different setting. I am in information and sensory overload, so I shall not belabor the post. I must say that study in the library, which I am attempting now, is pretty much the same worldwide. I find here even the same books. With that, I sign off until later.

On Liturgy in India

So today is Thursday, and I am tired already and we have only been here for 3 days? or is it 4....they all seem to congeal together. We have had many very interesting lectures and have gone on a few adventures off campus as well. Latter this afternoon we will be heading out to do some more sightseeing and I am looking forward to that.

I know we all have been experiencing and thinking about a lot. I have decided to write my paper when we get back on liturgy in India, both Christian and Hindu. Today was a good lecture day for me because we heard a lecture on the Inculturation of liturgy presented by Dr. Santhosh Kumar. He spoke a lot about how in the past people who came to south India to proclaim the gospel did not just bring in the gospel but they also important a good deal of their own cultural worship as well. What this means, he said, was that in most places that we would go to worship the worship would seem very western. Only now is there a movement with in the Church of South India to bring in more Indian culture into the worship. This leads me to question what exactly is necessary symbolism and practice to be a Christan? What should be important and what can be retained and kept from previously existing culture? I know in the intro to Liturgy class at LTSP we talked about the importance of the care of the central symbols. However, that care is important because it is through those symbols that we experience things of God that we cannot explain or experience in any other way. What is it that we can do when the things we talk about don't make sense in a particular culture? (see previous post by Alexis) It must be possible to present the gospel in other ways. I am so interested in what this new movement within the CSI will come up with in their inculturation effort. I find it exciting and think that as an American I can learn from this idea of inculturaltion. I in general just love liturgy and the way that the love of Gos is expressed through it. I am also excited to start looking at Hindu worship structure and to see how that worship portrays love to those present as well.

I know that was a lot of stuff but I am just really excited and am asking so many questions of myself right now. I felt the need to share. We are off shortly to experience another new thing. I am sure that someone will post about it later. Thanks for reading and peace to you as always.

Steve

Adventure!

Hello friends! I've slacked so far on a blog post, so I figured I better get my act together. I've taken 374 pictures so far on the trip. I'll share two with you in this post.

There is so much to share, but I'll try to share a few stories that have been unique to my own experience so far. I've been fortunate enough to have several little adventures, while small, packed full of excitement. On the first day here, a few of us took a small car to Commercial Street. My first experiences of Bangalore in the daylight were sitting in the hatchback of the car because there was no room in the front. To experience the crowded streets of Bangalore from that position was very exciting! Commercial Street
itself was also an adventure. I'll show you:


Yesterday, we took a group trip back to Commercial Street. On that trip there was an incident in which someone needed to get their money back from a purchase, so I and one of our gracious guides stayed behind from the group to argue for the money back. I listened to a whirlwind of arguing in Hindi, but finally we were able to get the money back. Then, we took an auto-rickshaw that was under the payroll of a store. He offered a trip for only 10 rupees back to the seminary but then stopped halfway to take us to the store. We ended up finding a different auto, but the whole thing was very exciting. Just zipping around the city in the auto is fun.

This afternoon we went on a little adventure for soda. The train station across the street has a little shop that sells it. Once we got back to the seminary, I set up my own shop to re-sell the soda for 2x the rupees! (of course I'm kidding)

On several occasions we have had beggars approaching us on the street. The poverty is heart breaking but perhaps most heart breaking is the children.


I'm very glad I've had opportunities to get out and about. So far, everything has been wonderful here, and a whole ton of fun. Everyone we meet is very friendly and welcoming.

Dr. Sebastian promised me monkeys tonight, so stay tuned!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Meat-eaters in a Vegetarian World...

Today during a lecture by Dr. P.T. George (professor of missiology here at UTC), he shared some of the practical challenges for Christian mission in India. Some of these challenges had to do with interfacing with the legacies of [ancient] Syrian Christians, Catholic and Protestant missionaries throughout India's history, "competing" with active Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist missions, and being culturally sensitive while doing contextual ministry. One comment that he said struck me...

He used the example of Christian missionaries introducing the Eucharist, among other things, to the native, mostly Hindu (and therefore vegetarian) peoples. He said, imagine you're being given education and health care and being told about a loving God, and then you hear that you are supposed to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus... How offensive for a vegetarian, who seeks to preserve all life! He said that Gandhi once said, 'I don't want your salvation if it comes at the cost of the life of another!' Wow! Talk about a vivid example, one that had never occured to me, of how important it is to be aware of our local ministry contexts!

Can't wait to see what other ways this trip will open me up to new thoughts, ideas, and ways of seeing the world...

~Alexis

Monday, January 4, 2010

Spices in the Air

What is the spice of Life? Waking this morning, evening, or mid morning, (Jet lag has taken over), well we're on " Dr. Sebastian time", Marsha and I were greeted with pleasantly scented air. Even more enticing was the warm smiles and greetings bestowed by all. Together, warm liquid smiles and scents create a seductive drink to consume.
As guests in a strange land, the scent of the welcoming spirit quickly dissolves the Vail of intimidation. Once open, we anticipate the hiddeness of God working here! May the scent's presence be the ever elusive One?
Peace, Scott & Marsha

Introduction and early first day

Hi, folks. Someone said we should each introduce ourselves.

Just to let you know, I'm Becky Howell, a doctoral student in Historical Theology working on theological controversies about usury in 16th century Germany. Which has nothing to do with being in India, but I started falling in love with India about two years ago when I realized I needed to learn more if I was going to teach Great World Religions responsibly, which is one of a number of things I am likely to do with my Ph.D. once I manage to earn it. The stories of Hinduism, Indian history, Indian movies, and a number of other things have become a great fascination of mine, and this is my first chance to actually see the country.

What have I actually seen so far? A few random glimpses of what struck me:

Dr. Sebastian greeting everybody from the people who clean the rooms to the professors (and everybody delighted to see him, which is no surprise).

Wonderful library archives that include books written on narrow strips of palm (wood I think). These are etched into the wood. They look a little bit like a pile of rulers strung together with string to keep them in order. Very fine handwriting. They have some of these in 9 different languages. We also saw a letter written by Gandhi, and Dr. Sebastian's Bachelor thesis, on the Heart of God in the Old Testament. I think most of us were as excited to see Dr. Sebastian's work as to see Gandhi's letter. Not perhaps as historic, but we have more personal connection.

There is an amazing sculpture on the lawn of the seminary commemorating a historic meeting of Indians and Pakistanis. I missed the year that this happened. The sculpture is a bunch of heads, piled into a wall. There are faces on both sides, in a sense both sides of the wall are the same, though different. While the sculpture is about partition, it also made me think about how we are living stones.

--Becky

Where am I?

Here is a post lacking significantly in substance. :)
The experience of traveling to the other side of the world (economy class) is the first of our new experiences! Highlights of our journey: Comparing Lufthansa airline food with LTSP Refectory food, Built-in tv monitors with on-demand movies on the first flight, German chocolate, the bus ride from the Bangalore airport ;) oh and the cute doggies at the airport that we could not touch! I'm not expecting to know what day it is or time it is for another day or so. It's fascinating that we can hop into a big machine and wake up on the other side of the world. Mind boggling, really.

We have arrived

To be more accurate we arrived very early this morning after about 20 hours of traveling. We are approximately 10 hours ahead of our friends in the Philadelphia area. As I write this it is almost 10am here on the 5th of January but it is only about midnight or a little before at home. We all seem to be adjusting to the time change pretty easily. By that I mean i haven't seen anyone walking around looking like they were still asleep.

We are in Bangalore at the United Theological College. The campus is wonderful and there are many people taking pictures. I expect at some point for someone to post some pictures for you all following our journey. Today holds for us a tour of campus and then worship with students. I know I am looking forward to it. We will stay in touch.

Steve

Introduction and First Impression

Hi. For all of you followers I am Mandi the sole Wartburger on this excursion to India. This is my first visit to India and I am beyond excited to be here. At first I was nervous joining up with a group of seminarians from Philadelphia because I had never met any of them or even talked to them on the phone prior to meeting up with them at the airport in Philadelphia. So far though they have turned out to be a very friendly group of individuals who have been very welcoming of me which has gotten this trip off to a great start.

Though the flights seemed endless at times- two flights, eight hours each- and jet lag is starting to hit a little bit, this experience so far has been great. Stepping out of the airport in Bangalore, the first thing I noticed were the wild dogs. Wild dogs running around without leashes in public areas with people around is not something that I am used to seeing everyday. The bus ride to the UTC was bumpy and I found it interesting that even though it was four am in the morning, almost all the cars honked at each other when passing one another. Though it was dark we were able to get a glimpse of the different housing accommodations that people around this area live in- it was the beginning of the culture shock which I am sure we will encounter more of on this trip.

This morning some of us went for a nice short walk around campus enjoying the sun and the seventy degree weather. It is absolutely lovely here on campus and I hope to start posting pictures in the near future.

Until next time....

Pax,
Mandi

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Don't even know what to expect...

My favorite thing about traveling is that it totally and utterly destroys my preconceived notions of... well, most things! It blasts open my suspicions of who "they" are and often debunks my own understanding of who I am.

So, that said, I don't even know what to expect with this trip to India. I've read a bit and have had friends who were either from there, lived there, and/or visited there, but I think I will be pretty surprised when I arrive. And that's exciting! I just hope I packed well enough and prepared well enough to enjoy the ride... :-)

peace,
Alexis

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Day Before and First Post

So this is our India blog. Yeah so we aren't there yet, but I thought it might be a good idea to get things rolling as we need a first post at some point anyway and I am really excited. Personally I'm so excited that I had trouble sleeping last night and our flight out is still more then 12 hours away, but I cannot wait.

I do not really have anything interesting to say here right now, but I think that is because we aren't in India yet. I am thinking that this blog will have a lot of interesting things once our group arrives.

Steve

Friday, January 1, 2010

Introduction to our group

Hello!
You might be wondering what on earth is "LTSP" or why we are going to India...

Well, this blog is a project of a group of seminary students from the USA who are traveling to India for a January-term class. Some of us are MDiv, some are doctoral students, some are already pastors, and some are seminary faculty. Most of us hail from LTSP: The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. We also have one student joining us from Wartburg Seminary in Iowa.

We will be traveling to Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, and Mumbai looking at the effects of globalization in India and also the interfaith (particularly Hindu, Muslim, and Christian) dialog and work in the country. We will be staying on college and seminary campuses as well as at a YMCA.

We're sure this will be an exciting adventure. Please stay tuned to our regular blog postings by group members.

Blessings!
Alexis, Amanda, Becky, Ben, Brett, Christine, Dr. Sebastian, Dr. Rajashekar, Eileen, Jason, Jeremiah, Marsha, Matt, Rachel, Rodney, Scott, and Steven